| First Drive | Barcelona, Spain | Infiniti FX30d |

Infiniti has been established overseas - most notably in the States - for 20 years now, but it's only within the last couple of years that the company has branched out into Europe. If the name sounds unfamiliar, think of it as Nissan's luxury brand - similar to what Lexus is to Toyota.

Until now, Infiniti has only built cars with powerful but thirsty V6 and V8 petrol engines, but top brass at the company knew that they wouldn't succeed in Europe, especially in the UK, without a diesel engine - and the FX30d 4x4 is the first model to get one.

In the Metal

Whatever your opinion on beefy 4x4s, there's no denying that the FX30d is a striking car to behold. The skinny little waves of headlamps and the monstrous, undulating bonnet make it look like nothing else on the road and give it huge presence. That translates to behind the wheel too, as the raised edges of the bonnet are permanently visible to the driver in a similar fashion to those of a Porsche 911.

The interior is pure luxury. Build quality is maybe not quite up to the same standards as an equivalent BMW or Mercedes, but it's not far off. Some of the slightly cheap switchgear and the dodgy wooden centre console let it down slightly, but for the most part it's well put together and suitably plush. The seats are extremely comfortable and there's loads of room for rear seat passengers.

What you get for your Money

Remember that the FX30d is a luxury car, so prices aren't going to be supermini cheap. The entry-level GT model costs £44,325 and the full fat S version in Premium trim tops out at £50,815.

For similar money, you can have a BMW X5 or X6, Audi Q7 or Porsche Cayenne, all with diesel engines. It's the equipment levels that set the Infiniti apart from the competition, though. The standard spec list is endless, with goodies like heated and cooled leather seats, a rear view camera and parking aids, an electrically adjustable steering wheel, 20-inch alloy wheels, a seven-speaker sound system and much more.

Go for the S version and you get continuous damping control (CDC) shock absorbers, 21-inch alloys and active rear steering to sharpen up the handling. Tick the Premium option box and you get almost every feature in Infiniti's arsenal including the Around View Monitor with cameras on every corner, a 30Gb hard drive and an 11-speaker Bose sound system.

Infiniti reckons that the FX30d has a potential 26 per cent price advantage over its main rivals when you factor in all the kit, so there is a sense of value.

Driving it

As SUVs go, the FX30d is by far and away one of the most engaging to drive. There's plenty of grip from the fat tyres and the car is set up for sporty handling rather than off-road prowess, which is even more apparent on the S model with its CDC damping. The drivetrain is quite obviously biased towards rear-wheel drive rather than the usual front-wheel drive most of the time, then 4x4 when you need it arrangement. That's a big draw for keen drivers, as is the minimal body roll (considering the car's size), comfortable ride and responsive steering.

The new 235bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine is rather lovely. There is a faint clatter under acceleration, but for the most part, it sounds great - very growly and a lot like a petrol engine. It's the torque that's most impressive, though. At 406lb.ft, the FX30d has even more shove than the FX50 V8 petrol, all of which kicks in low down the rev range at 1,750rpm. It's good for 0-62mph in 8.3 seconds and 132mph flat out.

The only let downs are loud wind noise and the seven-speed automatic gearbox. It's fine when you leave it in Drive, but swap cogs yourself via with the tactile magnesium wheel-mounted paddles and it jerks and jolts the car back and forth with every change.

Worth Noting

It might seem crazy that Infiniti didn't bother to include a diesel option as soon as it came to market in Europe, especially when it had access to Nissan's powertrains, but there's method to the madness. The plan was to establish the company as a sporty, performance-orientated brand first and foremost.

Now that the cars have been on sale in Europe for a while, Infiniti reckons it's acceptable to add a diesel engine to the range and broaden the appeal of the FX, which it certainly does. It won't be long before the oil-burning engine makes its way into other models in the range too, like the EX mid-size 4x4 and the G saloon.

Summary

Buying a car like the FX at a time like this is a risky move, but the diesel version is a much more attractive ownership prospect than the FX37 and FX50 petrol models. The obvious benefit is the lower running costs - 31.4mpg and 238g/km aren't bad for a big 4x4 - but buyers will also get the stronger resale values associated with a diesel.

All that equipment, cool looks, an impressive engine and tidy handling add to the appeal, too. If you're in the market for a luxury 4x4, the FX30d may not be the first one you think of, but it should certainly be on the try-before-you-buy list. It adds a welcome dash of individuality to the market, too.